silverfish Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 My beautiful Renie. My 'young' dog at only ten years old, has left us - so unexpectedly. I'm still in shock. First, I'd like to give you all a little background. It's perhaps not the best place for it, here in Remembrance, but my original thread in H&M was locked before I felt able to update it. So, I'm sorry, this will be long. Renie had a few issues lately, after being such a healthy girl for most of her life. She had three UTIs this year, a swollen toe, a sore neck, and an unexplained limp, so slight that it was put down to arthritis, and it did improve on Metacam. The week before Christmas, I asked for her to be x-rayed, because she was losing muscle over the shoulder, but nothing showed up. Our vet said her bones looked remarkably clean for a ten-year-old, but that it looked like she had two compressed discs, so after a trial with Previcox, which didn't help, she was put on steroids, which helped her a lot ... at first. But she began to get worse, and to squeak with pain. I took her back, and the vet gave her Vetergesic, which helped a lot. At first. But she continued to go downhill, and the squeaks got more frequent,and she looked just so miserable. And still, they were saying 'it's the discs' which I KNOW are enormously painful, so we carried on, upping the steroids, calling in for advice, managing her as best we could. Meanwhile, she's not eating much, and my beautiful, slender girl is melting away in front of my eyes. At this point I was so scared for her, because this reminded me so much of Susan (who we lost to undiagnosed kidney cancer). On Tuesday morning this week, she took a huge turn for the worse. On attempting to get up from her bed, she let out the most gut-wrenching series of screams I've ever heard from a greyhound. I rang the vet, and asked for an emergency call-out, but they were on skeleton staff and couldn't come out till the afternoon. I figured the disc problem had got dramatically worse, and maybe one or both had ruptured, so I requested a referral at a specialist centre, and they got us in as an emergency that day. The neurologist was not encouraging. She could clearly see that Renie was in tremendous pain, so she cut short her exam to give her a shot of methadone, and told us that in her opinion, it was one of four things. 1) Osteosarcoma 2) Nerve sheath tumour 3) CNS fluid infection, or 4) The discs I did NOT like the order in which she gave those options. We left her there overnight for x-rays, MRI, spinal tap. and possibly another type of scan. She was going to do the chest films first on the understanding that she would stop there if she saw tumours. I got very nervous at that point. So, we got the call at about ten the next day, and it was the worst possible news. No, not osteosarcoma, but just as deadly. My poor girl had a large tumour in the base of her neck, and it had begun to grow upward, infiltrating her spine, and was wrapped around the spinal cord so that it was being squeezed. There was a real 'pinch' in it, the sheath could not be seen. And it was clear on the MRI that it was compromising the vertebra, something NOT visible on x-ray. No wonder she was in such pain. It was inoperable, and we let her go. She was already not our Renie. Even on methadone, she was squeaking, and so glazed ... She was just the best dog. She was loving and affectionate, and would go to anyone who had a hand free, in the hope of strokes and scritches - she was a PAT therapy dog, visiting severely disabled adults, and Alzheimers victims and bringing them a little joy. She was a floozy. She was the gentlest and most loving dog. She was Jack's protector - whether he liked it or not! She was my calendar girl, my sweetheart, my companion. And she will be sorely missed. Pain-free now. Lovely Irene: 13th December 1998 - 30th December 2008. Rest in peace, sweetie. Quote The plural of anecdote is not dataBrambleberry Greyhounds My Etsy Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 So young Sending my sympathy Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JedsMom Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 I'm so sorry. Quote Daisy & Eli, the crazy hounds, and Bella & Zoe, the curly kitties,and Jed (10.30.98 - 11.28.08) & Ripple (3.25.99 - 8.20.09) together again at the bridgewith Cleo-Kitty (10.8.1988 - 7.26.2007) always in my heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KyGrey Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Judy, I am so sorry. I know there's nothing that anyone can say that will help but just know that Renie was loved by a lot of people. She will be looking down from above with Trish and the others who have gone before her. :grouphug :grouphug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey14me Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Oh how awful...I'm just so sorry Quote Michelle...forever missing her girls, Holly 5/22/99-9/13/10 and Bailey 8/1/93-7/11/05 Religion is the smile on a dog...Edie Brickell Wag more, bark less :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest how888 Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Oh no.. I am so sorry to hear this.... Godspeed sweet angel.... You will always be loved by many.... Once a princess gracing our earth, now an angel gracing our Heaven... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest boondog Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Godspeed, sweet girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jettcricket Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 (edited) ....I know how much it hurts....I'm so sorry for your loss. Such a pretty girl. Edited December 31, 2008 by jettcricket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4greyhounds Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 I am so sorry. Run Free Renie! Quote Darlene Mom to: Aladdin, Sophie ,Pongo, Jasmine, Relic Forever in our Hearts Champ at the Rainbow Bridge. Let a greyhound race into your heart Adopt Bay Area Greyhound Adoptions INC. Naples/ Fort Myers Chapter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 I don't have the right words, Judy. I'm just so very sorry. Hugs to you for the loss of your precious girl. Quote ...............Chase (FTH Smooth Talker), Morgan (Cata), Reggie (Gable Caney), Rufus (Reward RJ). Fosters check in, but they don't check out. Forever loved -- Cosmo (System Br Mynoel), March 11, 2002 - October 8, 2009.Miss Cosmo was a lady. And a lady always knows when to leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Judy, I am so sorry. Losing a hound is always hard, but when it is so sudden and unexpected Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytkidsmom Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 So terribly sorry for your sudden loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zachary Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 I am so sorry for the loss of your dear beautiful Renie. She will be welcomed by the most amazing group. Godspeed, little one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest isntitgreyt Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 I'm so sorry. Run Free Renie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LoveMyJoseyBean Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 That's awful. I am so sorry. Run free sweet Renie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 I'm sorry, Judy. Godspeed, precious brindle girlie. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KahluasMagic Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 I'm sorry. This year has been very sad to so many of us. Run free sweet Renie. Quote Lynn Missing Pepper,Magic,Kahlua, Hobbit Ziggy Jasper and Bella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Annie Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 I am so very sorry for your loss of Renie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyPoopon Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 I'm so sorry. Godspeed Renie. Quote Standard Poodle Daisy (12/13) Missing Cora (RL Nevada 5/99-10/09), Piper (Cee Bar Easy 2/99-1/10), Tally (Thunder La La 9/99-3/10), Edie (Daring Reva 9/99-10/12), Dixie (Kiowa Secret Sue 11/01-1/13), Jessie (P's Real Time 11/98-3/13), token boy Graham (Zydeco Dancer 9/00-5/13), Cal (Back Already 12/99-11/13), Betsy (Back Kick Beth 11/98-12/13), Standard Poodles Minnie (1/99-1/14) + Perry (9/98-2/14), Annie (Do Marcia 9/03-10/14), Pink (Miss Pinky Baker 1/02-6/15), Poppy (Cmon Err Not 8/05-1/16), Kat (Jax Candy 5/05-5/17), Ivy (Jax Isis 10/07-7/21), Hildy (Braska Hildy 7/10-12/22), Opal (Jax Opal 7/08-4/23). Toodles (BL Toodles 7/09-4/24) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fudge Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 I'm so sorry. Reanie is pain free now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cindysmom Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Oh Judy, I'm so very sorry... My deepest sympathies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GreytMuse Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 I am so sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 There's nothing I can say here that I havent already told you over the last 24 hours. I'm just so terribly sorry that you are going through this my friend. I wish I could burden it for you. I'm so so sorry Judy. Quote Welcome home Quixote (formerly known as Whytell Mango) My Beloved Scooterman October 16, 1998 - October 11, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 I am so very sorry. Run with angels pretty girl, pain free. God speed Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KRKWMU Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 I always thought Renie was so cute in your siggie. I'm so sorry that she's gone. She is in a better place now though, without that terrible pain. We'll be thinking of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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